CONFESSION OF MURDER IN VICTORIA.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 644, 12 April 1870, Page 2

CONFESSION OF MURDER IN VICTORIA.

On January 10th, at Bow-street Police Court, George Dyer, fortyseven, clerk, a person of diminutive stature, was brought up before Mr Vaughan, charged, on his own confession, with having murdered George Wilson at the gold diggings at the Loddon, Victoria, Australia. In his confession he stated that he was married and had three children by his first wife. In 1853 he left England for Melbourne, and arrived there in August of the same year, and stayed there until May 1855, when his wife died, and he sent his children home to England. He went to the gold diggings at the Loddon, Victoria, about June. He took up a claim, and worked it, and remained at Loddon. About a month before Christmas, 1557, he met a man named George "Wilson, an English sailor. They were botb singlehanded, and as each wanted a mate, he joined him (prisoner) in working his claim. They got on very well together for nearly a month, when a quarrel arose between them in his (prisoner's) tent as to the quantity of gold realised. It led to mutual recriminations. Wilson drew his sheathed knife. To defend himself he (prisoner) took up his spade and struck him down with it. He cut his bead clean open, and be fell down dead immediately. Prisoner threw his body into a deep well. It was about twelve o'clock at night when he killed him. There was another tent on the hill, about 150 yards off. Some Cornish people occupied it, but he could not recollect their names. The well was only a few yards from the tent; the body was quite warm when he threw it in. He returned to the tent and went to bed. They were both perfectly sober at the time of the quarrel. The next day he went to work_ alone, and when asked by the Cornish party what had become of bis mate, George, he answered that he had gone to the Inglewood rusb. Prisoner ultimately came to England, but moved from the place where the murder was committed very soon. He did no good, and be left Loddon, went to Melbourne, and then to New Zealand. He stayed at different places, and finally left for England. He reached Liverpool about July 20th, 18G6, in the Great Britain. He had been in correspondence with his children, and went to them on bis arrival in England. He lived at first with his married sister, Mrs Axter, and then witb bis eldest son. He lived afterwards at other places. Not a, soul knew of this murder but himself. He made this statement of bis own free will, for the event of that night preyed heavily on his mind, and he had "had no peace since. He bad been engaged in bis usual duties, left the office at three p.m., took tea, and came out in a distracted state of mind. He wandered about and then saw the words " Policostation " on a wall, and he gave himself up to the officer on duty. Mr Vaughan remarked that be had "directed inquiries to be made in Australia, and it would bo necessary to remand the prisoner until soiuo communication bad been made from there. Tho prisoner said that ho killed Georgo

Wilson in self-defence. In that case the charge would not only be reduced to one of manslaughter, but almost justifiable manslaughter. The prisoner was then remanded—bail, two sureties in £IOO each, being immediately tendered and accepted.